On the Edge

I live in rural New York. It is not uncommon to be greeted by a variety of wild life as you drive down most any road or highway. I have waited while a black bear ambled across the road, dodged a few possums and a number of raccoons. I have encountered a fox and coyote making a dash across my headlights. I have found myself beeping at an entire flock of turkeys in the middle of the road and more woodchucks than I can count. They are agile and seem to want to avoid any real contact with this human being. However, there are other creatures that seem to be intent on contact. They are the indigenous white tail deer. They seem to have some peculiar desire to look in my living room window and munch the flowers next to my front door. They hang out in my back yard and when we had a pool they would stop by for a drink and to checkout the floating pool toys. In truth they are pretty impressive creatures. Slender legs that can bound over a fence from a stand still. They are a bit of a nuisance as they pass on the lush green clover in the neighboring field so they can devour my shrubbery and flowers. It is just a part of sharing the environment with God's creatures.

There is one thing that I do not understand when it comes to deer. The area we live in is pretty open. There are fields, farmland, and lots of wooded areas. There should be plenty of room for us to coexist. That being said, why to they graze on the side of the road instead of out in the field? What compels them to try to pay "chicken" with oncoming cars? It is not like there is nowhere else to go. Is the grass really that much better in the median between east and west bound major highways? Do they actually think they will win when they step in front of my seventy mile an hour van? Go hang out in the woods or the fields. Eat the daisies and wild flowers and get away from the edge of the highway. These deer seem compelled to live on the edge of the roads or even on the roads. Are they oblivious to  the unfortunate carcasses of possible family members who have become vulture dinners left crumpled on the side of the road? Do they have some sort of bazaar death wish? How stupid can these creatures be to hang out on the edge of death and personal destruction?

Fortunately we, as human beings, as those created in God's image, are far wiser than deer. We would never dabble on the edge of destructive behaviors. We know better than to place ourselves at risk, positioning ourselves in the path of temptation. We are more prudent than to put ourselves on a path that leads us into an area of moral weakness. We are indwelt by the Spirit of God, so the idea of wandering willfully into areas that we know are places we should not go is foreign to us. Maybe not so much. We do live in a fallen world that is at odds with, if not aggressively challenging, everything we believe to be true. Every form of media is calling us to compromise our integrity. If not openly, to at least drag our thoughts to areas we really do know are not pleasing to the Lord.

This is why the Apostle Paul gave instruction to young Timothy, "Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (2 Timothy 2:22). 1 Corinthians 15:33 warns us, "Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.'" Simply put, if you want to live a Godly life you need to avoid the situations that can draw you into sin. Do not just think about it, Paul says to flee. Get out of there. Be like Joseph, drop your coat and run! (see Genesis 39 for the full account). We need to follow the counsel of the writer of Hebrews when it comes to living on the edge of temptation: "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1). As believers, it seems that we are susceptible to adopting the behavior of the New York white tail deer. We graze at the edge of the road called temptation and wonder what happened when  a truckload of sin slams into us and sends us spiraling toward disaster. How much better to keep a little distance between us and what can cause us to fall.

We do live in a world that is filled with things to distract us and thus we must be vigilant. It seems obvious that our Lord's prayer in John 17:15 has been answered, at least in part, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one." We have certainly been left in the world. However, we bear some responsibility for keeping from the evil one. Most of us know our weaknesses, be it wanting nice things, admiring an attractive person, or enjoying a good meal. Yet some of us know that, for us, this can lead to coveting, lust, or gluttony. Not for everyone. But, as I said, we know our weakness. We are experts in rationalization so we can feel comfortable standing on the edge of the highway called temptation somehow sure we will not step in front of the oncoming bus of moral failure. 1 Corinthians 10:12 was written for a reason, "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."

God knows us well. He also knows that being on the edge of the highway of temptation is no place for His children to live. He is kind enough to tell us to flee. Be aware of the highway. Stay out in the meadows of grace. Keep your distance from those other deer that say the grass is tastier on the edge of the road to destruction. However, the choice is still ours.  Just keep in mind the vultures are circling for a reason.